Machine for skinning meat



March 20, 1951 w. F. WEBER MACHINE FOR SKINNING MEAT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Oct. 20, 1944 W a w W n: Qt

INVEN TOR.

I ATTORA/L) March 20, 1951 w. F. WEBER 2,545,718

MACHINE FOR SKINNING MEAT Original Filed Oct. 20, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2IN VEN TOR.

A rTaQA/f; r

March 20, 1951 w. F. WEBER 2,545,718

MACHINE FOR SKINNING MEAT Original Filed Oct. 20, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5R &

I Pi u (J K a) 0 O \9 Ln k) Q r\ Lk k O //l// ///am F M eer INVENTORMarch 20, 1951 w, WEBER 2,545,718

MACHINE FOR SKINNING MEAT Original Filed Oct. 20, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4FIG.

IN V EN TOR.

By @M 6 47'7l0/ZA/E. Y

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 MACHINE FOR SKINNING MEAT William F. Weber,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ar- Chicago, 111., a corporation mour andCompany, of Illinois Original application Octo her 20, 1944, Serial No.

559,548. Divided and this application January 26, 1946, Serial No.643,527

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for skinning meat pieces such ashams, pork shoulders, and the like.

In the past it has beenthe usual practice in packing houses to removethe skin from pork shoulders and other meat pieces by hand operation,using a skinning knife. Hand skinning requires considerable care andskill and is a tedious, time-consuming operation. In practice a certainamount of meat is unavoidably removed with the skin in hand skinning.Any meat removed along with the skin is wasted, and this is to beavoided if possible. Also, in hand skinning the skins are frequentlyout, making them unsuitable for tanning.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for removingthe skin from the meat pieces in a rapid, efficient manner by machineoperations rather than by hand cutting. It is further desired that themachine be effective for removing the skin whole and clean of surfacemeat.

Another object is to provide a machine requiring a minimum of effort andattention by the operator. 7 V

More specific features of the invention include the provision of acounter-balanced clamping device which normally remains open andsuspended and which may be easily affixed to a piece of skin by theoperator. Another feature is the provision of means for moving the meatpieces while permitting them to turn as the skin is removed. Anotherfeature is the provision of means for turning the skinned pieces topermit their discharge from the machine'after the skinning operation.Many other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentasthe detailed description proceeds.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings in which- Fig. 1 is .a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is anelevational side view of the machine; Fig. 3 is a detailed view of theclamp suspending device; Fig. 4 is a sectional view, the section beingtaken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlargedelevational view of the clamping device; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan viewof the device shown in Fig. 5; Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional viewshowing details of the hook and turning mechanism, the view being takenas indicated at line li of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a detailed view showing theconstruction of the turning mechanism, the view being taken as indicatedat line 8-8 of Fig. '7; Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the operation of.the machine and showing the clamping mechanism in a position holding apiece of meat with the meat piece in condition for forward movement;Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the meat being skinned,the skin being partly removed; and Fig. 11 is a view sim.

ilar to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 but showing the meat piece after the skin hasbeen removed and the pieces passing onwardly in the machine.

As illustrated, the improved machine includes a frame A in which iscarried the conveyor 3 for moving the meat pieces forwardly, a clampingdevice C for holding the skin, and mechanism D for removing the meatfrom the conveyor.

The frame A may be of any construction which is adapted to suitablysupport the conveyor. In the embodiment illustrated the frame includesthe pairs of vertical standards It], H, l2 and i3 (Fig. 2). At the topon the right hand side is the angle l4 which is secured as by weldingtothe right hand standards, and at the top on the left hand side is theangle it which issecured as by welding to the left hand standards ofpairs 10, ll, 12 and I3. Extending between the standards I2 is across-piece I6 (see Fig. 4) and a similar crosspiece extends between thestandards ll. Supporting members I1 and i3 are secured in spacedrelation to the cross-piece It, and on top of these supportingmembersrests the rails i9 and 28. Similar rail' supporting structure isprovided in connection with the standards H.

The conveyorB includes a series of rectangular plates 2!, which arehingedly connected through chain 22 to form an endless belt. The top ofthis belt rides on and along the rails 19 and 26 with the chain 22 incontact with the rails. The bottom portion of the conveyor belt ismaintained in position by the arm members 23 which engage the side rails24 attached to the standards H and I2. The topplates 25 and 25 securedto top angles l5 and M respectively extend inwardly over the top of theconveyor belt and piece '29 secured to standards It and H. The

prevent distortion of the top conveyor surface.

At the rear end of the conveyor is a pulley 2? having one end of itsshaft 39 journaled in the end mounting 28 which is supported on the sideother end of shaft 38 is similarly supported on the other side of themachine.

At the forward end of the conveyor the pulley 3! has one end of itsshaft 32 journaled in the mounting I45 supported on the longitudinalpiece 156. The piece I46 has its ends attached to I the vertical framemembers til-and M8 and is supported at its center by the standard l3.Theother end of shaft 32 is supported in a similar way.

Mounted on a table 33 (see Fig. l) at the side of the machine, is amotor 34 and gear mechanism 35 which drives shaft 32 through pulley 3?,chain 33 and pulley. 39 on shaft 32. A wheel 45 is provided foradjusting the gear. mechanism to cause the conveyor to move faster ormore slowly according to the desires of the operator. Referring moreparticularly to Fig. i, there is secured to cross-bar IE 21. pair ofvertical'supports 4|. A similar pair of supportsis disposed between thestandards ll. Secured. tothe top of the supports ii are the longitudinal"guide rails 42 and 43 and secured to the bottoms of these supports arethe longitudinal guide rails 44 and 45.

Spaced along the surface of the conveyor at the desired intervals arehook members 45. These members are disposed centrally of the conveyorand areeach pivotally sechredto one of. plates 2 i.

As seen in Fig. land Fig. 7 a pair ofsr'i aceiil',

curved hooks 4? are sec uredat their bottoingpcsh tions with a block 48.which rideson topof the conveyor surface. Asleeve B is secured, as bywelding, to the underside of plate 2!, anda stem 49. extends withinsleeve through an aperture in theplate2 l, and has a reduced topextension. 5! which passes through an aperture in block 48 and has. itsthreaded end en aged. by nut53. At the lower end .ofstemdfi is aflattened extension 54 which extends'between. the guide rails '42 and 43whenpassing forwardly with the top. of the conveyor, and between guiderails 44 and 45 when returning with the bottom of the conveyor.

The flattened. extensions 54 slide along and are guided by rails 42. and43 so that the. hooks 41 are pointed forwardly as they' move forwardlyalong the top of the conveyor. In order to turn these hooks to permitmore convenient discharge.

of the meat pieces, turning mechanism" is provided. As shown in thebroken out portion of Fig. l and also in Fig. 8, rail 43 is providedwith; a" U-shaped portion 55, and below this the rail 45 is providedwith a similar U-shapedportion. The pin 56-is securedto portions 55 of-rails 43; and-45 in the position shown in Fig. 8 and has its endsprotruding above and below rails 43 and 45 as indieatedin Fig. l andFig. 7. Each of which extend perpendicularly of the flattened extensions54 and above rails 42 and 43. these pieces are returning on theunder-side of the conveyor the bars 54 pass beneath rails 44 and.45.

As hook members 46 pass forwardlyon the topof the conveyor, theextensions 54 approach the U-shaped portions 55 traveling in thedirection indicated by arrow 58, Figure 8'. One end of a bar 5 willstrike the top portion of the pin 55 and further forward movement of thepiece 5 and Fig. 6. This device includes a pair of jaws GI and 62 whichextend downwardly at an angle. These jaws have irregular contactingsurfaces 63;

When

. stems 49- is provided with the lateral bars 5'5- and 64 which arecomplementary to each other, the raised portions of one surface fittingin the channeled portions of the other surface so as to provide aneflicient grip on the skin. The surface 64 on the forward jaw 6| isshorter than the surface 63 and it terminatesina curved end surface 65.Thisstructure; is important in preventing tearing of the skin at pointsimmediately adjacent the gripping surfaces of the clamp.

Jaws 6! and 52 are pivoted at 66 and the curved leversfi-l andeilvextendrearwardly to provide the diverging portions 65. and ill. The lowerdiverging portion 15 has a,v rearward leg portion Fl having the toe Ha.adapted to engage a table or other supporting surface. Inward of thediverging portions 59 and-it'lare the bosses i2 and 13 which are adaptedtocontacteach other to form a stop as the jaws become completely closed.Links 74 and l5 each have their one end attached to the end of r thediverging portions 89; and "I8, and have their other. ends engaged bythelink it. Link 16, in turn, is co-nnectedwithfthe chain ll.

Attached to jaw 62 is the curved guard. plate. I 05.

The outer. surface of the guard plate 535 is flush withthe end surfaceof the jaw 62. As.

seen more clearly in Fig. 6, the guard plate. H261 extends laterallybeyond the jaws 6i .and 6.2. The.

central portion of guard I66 is'slotted as indicated at lill, so thatwhen the arms 67 and 63' are moved apart to open the jaws the arm 63mayv move into the slot :01. A lip guard its extends beneath. the guardplate m6 and is securedat itstop witl'lv the arm 68. This lip guard 35effectively protects the slotted portion I07 when the clamping,

device is closed. By providing the guard means just described, the hookmembers 46,- are prevented from catching on the just below the clampingmechanism.

The uppermost lever 61 is provided with an apertured ear 18 to whichtheend ofcable 79 is, attached. The other end of cable 79 is attacl' edto the, end of lever 86 shown in Fig. 3. Lever 8i! The links l4, l5 andit when in l0 OSe conditionwill permitthelever arms 6'! and 55 to comeapartwhen the clamping device is suspended by means.

of cable 19 so thatthe clamp is held in open condition, but when chain73' isdrawn taut the clamp,

links 74 and 15' are pulled inwardly toitightly close the jaws onwhatever is between them.

The mechanism D forremoving the meatironr the conveyor includes wheels$5 and 5| andthe intermediate wheel 92 Withfingers 93,; ThewheclsQElrand iii are. so

spaced on shaft 94 as to permit thepassage of the. hook members41--between them,. and the; wheel: 92 is at the transverse center oftheconveyor sothat the hooks 4? will pass on each side. of it.- The shaft94 has its ends journaled inthe mountings. 95 which are attached to the;carriage, 196 :hingeda 1y supported on the frame atel. fiilower portionof carriage .fifi-is secured against the far end" of the frame by meansof the springs ,Qdextending between this lowerportion and standards 13.

Shaft 94 is driven through-pulieyea n shaft 32', chain H35, and pulleyllll on shaft 94.

I prefer to utilize .astationary structure-.Hll'; (Fi 1 and Fig. 2a 1which has. aslantedtop and jaws of .the clamping. device as they moveforwardly on the conveyor each of which .is..eq.uipped provides a chuteIII for passing to the machine the pieces to be skinned. Suitably, thepiece H2 attached to this structure H may be employed for securing therear end of chain TI holding the clamping device 0.

Over the rear end of the conveyor structure is a plate H3 which ishingedly connected to the frame at I I4 and which serves as a table onwhich the meat may be placed preparatory to skinning. Suitably, thisplate H3 may have the side pieces H5. The central portion of the platemay be slotted at H6, the slot being of suflicient width to permit thepassage therethrough of the hook members 45. Desirably, a flap H'I maybe disposed over the rear end of slot H6 and hingedly connected to theplate H3 at H8. When the hook members 46 turn about pulley 21 from theunder-side of the conveyor they may raise flap I I1 and then passforwardly through the slot I I6, and the flap H'I may close after a hookmember has passed.

At the forward end of the conveyor it is advantageous to employ a chutehaving inwardly inclined sides. As shown in Fig. 1 the bottom plates H8have the inclined sides I20 which lead inwardly toward the end of theconveyor. These inclined sides operate to complete the turning of thevery large pieces ofmeat which may not get completely turned through theoperation of the turning mechanism. This may, for example, be due to-thefact that the size of the meat is so great compared to its strength thatrotation of book 46 merely tears the meat without causing rotationthereof. When the meat strikes inclined sides I20, the meat is rotatedin amount sufficient to permit it to pass through the narrow sectiontherebetween and to be received on the wheels 90, 9 Land 92.

Also, it is preferable to employ a table or other receiving means at theforward end of the conveyor for receiving the meat pieces as they aredischarged from the conveyor. In the structure illustrated is included atable I40 onto which the pieces may be discharged through the operationof wheels 90-92.

It is further feature of the invention that the conveyor is mounted ininclined manner as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this constructionthe meat pieces may be handled at the rear end of the conveyor at aheight which is convenient to an operator, and the meat pieces will bedischarged on the table I40 of substantially this same height which isconvenient for the further treatment of the meat pieces by otheroperators.

Operation When the machine is to be operated the motor 34 may be startedthrough any suitable electrical connections and this operates to drivethe conveyor through the drive means already described and also to drivethe shaft 94 carrying wheels I, 90--92. Shaft 94 is driven in suchdirection that the periphery of wheels 9092 moves counter to theadjacent surface of the conveyor.

The operator may stand to the left of the machine at the rear end of theconveyor and receive the meat pieces down the chute III. The meat piecescoming down chute III should previously be prepared by slicing under anedge of the skin so as to leave a small flap which can be en aged by theclamping mechanism. The operator takes one of these pieces of meat suchas the piece .F illustrated in Fig. 9 and lays it upon the plate I I3,over the slot H6. The clamping mechanism C will be. suspended by meansof cable 19 and the counter-balancing mechanism already described.Theoperator may grasp the top lever arm 61 of this device and lower itto a position where the jaws BI and 62 may receive the edge portion orflap of the skin. In Fig. 9 to Fig. 11 the skin of the piece isindicated by the character I30 and the edge portion or flap bythe'character I3l. In placing the meat piece on the plate H3 over theslot ,I I6 the operator may place the shank portion of the meat,designated I32, forwardly of the machine, with the body portion I33rearwardly. When the clamping device has been lowered by the operatorand the rearward skin flap I3I placed between the jaws BI and 62 theoperator may press downwardly on the arm 6'! and with the leg H inengagement with the plate I I3 cause the jaws to become clamped aboutthis loose edge of the skin.

As the conveyor rotates, one of the hook members 46 will pass from thebottom of the conveyor about the rear end of the conveyor and passforwardly through the slot H6. As it does so, the curved hooks 41 engagethe meat piece and form themselves about the bon structure. The pointsof hooks 4'! will pass into the meat as indicated in Fig. 9 and willdraw the clamping device C forwardly until the chain 11 becomes taut.During th initial movement of the meat piece ahd until the clampingdevice becomes tight the operator may press down on the top lever 67with the toe Ha of lever 68 sliding along the surface of table H3. Thetaut condition is illustrated in Fig. 9. It will be seen that tensionbrought about by the engagement'of the skin flap I3! tends to make themeat piece rotate, raising the shank I32. When the meat piece is passedfurther forwardly as indicated in Fig. 10 the meat piece rotates to theextent of bringing the shank portion I32 to a position where it pointsrearwardly instead of forwardly as it did in the beginning of theskinning operation. The continued forward movement of the piece of meatcauses the removal of the skin, the skin being turned inside out as itis removed from the central and shank portions of the piece of meat.

Fig. 11 illustrates the condition after the meat piece has been movedsufiiciently forward to completely remove the skin from it. At thispoint the tension is relieved in chain I1, and the counter-balancingmechanism, including the lever 89 and weight 84, operates to suspend andopen the clamping device, releasing the skin, and holding the deviceready for the next operation. The skin I30 shown in Fig. 11 is in onepiece and may be passed along the conveyor and discharged on a suitabletable or may be caught b the operator and removed to a separatereceptacle if desired. It will be noted that the support "82 holding thecable 19 is rearward of the clamping device C when this device is in itsmost forward position permitted b chain 1'! so that thecounter-balancing mechanism is useful in pulling back the clamp to aposition convenient for operation on another meat piece.

As the skinned meat piece passes forwardly on th hooks in the conditionillustrated in Fig. 11 it approaches the position indicated in dottedlines at I50 (Fig. 2). At this position the turning mechanism comes intooperation and, as indicated in Fig. 8, the bar 51 engages pin 56 to turnthe stem 49 and also the hooks 41 about into the position indicated indotted lines at I5I (Fig.

2). Thus turned, theshank portion which is indicated as pointingrearwardly in Fig. 11 is turned to again point forwardly. As the meatattache thu turn d pas es. on about the end of. he conveyor it; isengaged by the fingers. 93 of he. wheels 307-92, removed from the hooksgland. passed over wheels; Ellie-92 onto the table MI}. The hook member46;, after the meat has been discharged from it, passes on about theforward end of the conveyor andreturns on the under-side. As it comes tothe position indicated in dotted lines t 152 (Fig. 20,. th ng m chanismagain comes into operation. and again rotates the hooks 415 throughapproximately 130 so that the points of the hooks 41 again face thedirection of movement of the conveyor and are in position to engaganother piece of meat after they have passed the rear end of theconveyor.

The hook members 46 may be spaced as close- 1y on the conveyor surfaceas desired. However, the spacing should be sufficient to permit: time inthe normal operation of. the machine for the operator to place the pieceof meat in position and bring down the clamping device C for onegagement with the edge of the skin before the succeeding hook membercomes, up to engage the meat piece.

By having a pair of spaced hooks 4-3, the in-. dividual hooks may engagedifferent sides of a bony structure such as a joint so that; the bonewhich extends longitudinally of the piece extends between the hooks'.This structure facilitates the turning of the piece on the hookduringthe removal of the skin.

In-the case of a large piece of meat such as a large ham, or in case ofmeat pieces not adapted for engagement of a bony structure of the hooks4'1, the turning of the hook members may not be sufiicient to get themeat piece completelyturned, particularly if the meat is quite soft, andin such case the inclined guide pieces I28, complete the turning of thepiece.

Should a piece of meat be so firmlyfixed on hooks 4'! that the mechanismD can not, or forsome reason does not disengage it, breakage of themachine is avoided by the resilient pivoted mounting of the mechanism D.As the piece passes between the conveyor and wheels ere-e2. the spring98 yields to permit shaft 93, to swing outwardly about the hingedmounting at 93'', thus permitting space through which the meat piece maymove. If the chain me is not sufficiently loose to permit this outwardswing ofthe shaft the chain will break, but may be easily replaced. Alsoprovision is made for permitting the meat piece to pass again to the topof the conveyor without damaging the machine. As the meat pieceapproaches the top of the. cons veyor it may raise the table H3 abouthinges H 3 and pass under this table. This operation takes place only inemergency and to permit. time for stopping the machine.

This application is a division of my applica-. tion Serial No. 559,5t8,filed Oct. 20, 19.44, for method or" Skinning Meat, has now issued asPatent No. 2,493,707.

The foregoing detailed description describes but a single embodiment ofthe invention. However, it is understood that, many embodiments. may beconstructed which differ widely in structure while still including oneor more of the novel principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A machine for skinning meat comprising a frame structure, an endlessconveyor mounted on the frame structure, means fixed on said conveyorfor passing a meat piece therewith, and Stationary clamping; meansmounted o said.

frame structure for ho din an ed e of skin on said meat pi e. ainstforward movement with said conveyor, said conveyor means permittingrotation of the meat piece about. an axis below,- said edge of skin toturn the meat, piece as; the. conveyor travels and thus: remove theskin.

2. A machine for skinning a meat piece come. prising a frame structure,an endless conveyor mounted on the. frame structure, means. fixed: onsaid conveyor for passin a meat piece there.-. with, said meansincluding a curved.- pointed hook adapted to engage. the meat piece, andstationary clamping means, mounted on said frame structure for holdingan edge of skin on said meat piece against forward movement with saidconveyor, said hook being pointed .in the direction of movement. thereofto. permit turn-. ing of the meat piece as it is carried forwardlybysaid means to remove the skin therefrom.

3. A'machine as. set forth in claim, 1 wherein said first means includesa pair of curved; hooks. pointedin the direction of movement thereof forengaging the meat piece on both sides. of a bony section thereof.

4. A machine for skinning meat comprising a frame structure, an endlessconveyor mounted on the frame structure, means. mounted on said frame.structure for holding an edge of' skin on a piece of meat, meansrotatably mounted on said conveyor for engaging said piece of meat andpassing it forwardly with said convey-or, means mounted on said framestructure for turning said last means together with the piece of meatthere. on through approximately 180 and about an axis substantiallytransverse to the. direction of mo-. tion thereof and passing relativelyclose to the center of said meat, and means mounted on the forward endof said frame structure for engaging said piece after being turned to,remove. thesame from said engaging means.

5'. A machine as set forth claim 4 wherein said engaging means includesa hook the point of which is. in the direction of movement of saidconveyor when the meat. piece is engaged thereby.

6. A machine for skinning meat pieces com-l prising a frame structure,means mounted on said frame structure for holding an edge of skin on apiece of meat, means associated with said 0011- veyor for engaging saidpiece of meat and passingit forwardly with said conveyor to therebyremove from the. piece the skin held in said holding means, saidengaging means including a hook pointed in the direction of movement ofsaid con veyor when engaging said piece of meat and shaped to rotatesaid meat piece about an axis transverse to the direction of motion sothe hook bites into the meat, and means mounted on said frame,structure. for discharging said piece of meat from the conveyor after ithas been skinned.

7. A machine'for skinning meat pieces com; prising a frame structure, aconveyor mounted on said frame structure; means mounted on said.

frame structure for holding an edge of skin on a piece of meat, meansrotatably mounted on saidconveyor for engaging the piece of meat andpassing it forwardly with said conveyor, said engaging means including ahook pointed in the direction-of movement of said conveyor when en-.-gaging said piece of meat, means mounted on said frame structure forturning said engaging means together with they piece. of meat thereonthrough approximately 180, and means mounted on the forward endofsaidframe structure for engaging said piece after being turned to remove thesame; from said first mcntioned engaging means, said piece removingmeans including a wheel adjacent the end of said conveyor and adapted torotate in a direction such that its circumference adjacent said conveyoris moving in a direction counter to the movement of the conveyor.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said wheel is hingedlymounted with respect to said conveyor.

9. In a machine for removing skin from a meat piece a frame structure, aconveyor mounted on said frame structure and equipped with hook meansfor engaging meat piece and passing it forwardly thereon and clampingmeans mounted on said frame structure for holding an edge of skin onmeat piece, said clamping means including a pair of jaws adapted toclamp about the edge of skin before said hook means has engaged saidmeat piece and including also an inclined surface guarding said jawsagainst hooked engagement with said hook means.

10. In a machine for removing skin from pieces a frame structure, aclamping device mounted on said frame structure for holding an edge ofskin on a meat piece, said device including a pair of dependent jaws,the one of said jaws which is most forward in position being shorterthan the other at the engaging surface thereof and having a roundedsmooth surface at its end adjacent said engaging surface, and mounted onsaid frame structure for moving a meat piece forwardly of said devicewhile the skin is held in said device.

11. A machine for removing the skin from meat pieces comprising a framestructure, a conveyor mounted on said frame, a table adjacent thereceiving end of said conveyor on which a piece to be skinned may beplaced, clamping means mounted on said frame structure adapted to beengaged about an edge portion of skin on a meat piece disposed on saidtable, means associated with said conveyor for engaging the piece ofmeat on said table and passing it forwardly with said conveyor whilepermitting rotation thereof about an axis perpendicular to the directionof motion and passing relatively close to the center of said meat, andmeans for holding said clamping means to remove the skin from the meatpiece as the piece is passed forwardly on the conveyor by said engagingmeans.

12. A machine for removing the skin from pieces of meat comprising aframe structure, a table on which a meat piece to be skinned may beplaced, a clamping device mounted on said frame structure adapted to beengaged about an edge portion of skin on a meat piece disposed on saidtable, means for maintaining said clamping device suspended and in opencondition when not in use, said clamping device having a lower legportion adapted to rest on said table and having an upperhand portionwhich When pressed downwardly on said table is effective to close saiddevice on said edge portion of skin, and means for moving the meat pieceforwardly to thereby remove from the piece the skin held in saidclamping device.

13. A machine for removing the skin from meat pieces comprising a framestructure, a table on which a piece of meat to be skinned may be placed,said table being provided with a hinged, slotted section at its forwardend, clamping means mounted on said frame structure adapted to beengaged about an edge portion of the skin of a meat piece disposed onsaid table, and a conveyor mounted on said frame structure extendingbeneath the slotted forward section of said table and equipped with hookmeans for engaging the piece of meat on said table over said slottedsection and passing it forwardly with the con- Veyor to thereby removefrom the piece the skin held in said clamping means, said hook meansbeing adapted in the operation of said conveyor to pass forwardly withinsaid slot on said table.

14. A machine for removing the skin from pieces of meat comprising aframe structure,

clamping means mounted on said frame structure adapted to be engagedabout an edge portion of skin on a meat piece, an endless conveyormounted on said frame structure, a table provided with a hinged siottedsection at its forward end, said slotted section extending above thereceiving end of said conveyor, means associated with said conveyor forengaging the meat piece on said table and passing it along forwardlywith said conveyor to thereby remove from the piece the skin held bysaid clamping means, said conveyor being continuously inclined upwardlytoward the forward end thereof, a receiving table substantially the sameheight as said conveyor at the point where the meat pieces are engagedby said engaging means, said receiving table extending beneath theforward end of said conveyor, and means for discharging meat pieces fromsaid conveyor onto said receiving table.

15. In a machine for skinning a piece of meat as it travels on aconveyor, the improvement which comprises a clamp having a pair ofpivoted arms defining a pair of skin-engaging jaws, swingable meanssupporting said clamp from one of said arms and from a point whereinsaid jaws assume an open position, and means attached to said pair ofpivoted arms limiting the forward motion of said clamp, said limitedmeans including swingable members attached to a common pivot point tourge said jaws to the closed condition as the skin therebetween ispulled.

16. A machine for skinning meat pieces comprising a frame structure, aconveyor mounted on said frame structure, means mounted on said framestructure for holding an edge of skin on a piece of meat, meansrotatably mounted on said conveyor for engaging the piece of meat andpassing it forwardly with said conveyor, said engaging means including ahook pointed in the direction of movement of the conveyor when engagingsaid piece of meat, means mounted on said frame structure for turningsaid engaging means together with the piece of meat thereon throughapproximately 180, and means for engaging said piece after being turnedto remove the same from said first engaging means.

WILLIAM. F. WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,223,129 Watson Apr. 17, 19171,365,927 Lindsey Jan. 18, 1921 1,721,139 Smith July 16, 1929 1,867,133Bisset July 12, 1932 1,960,643 Lorenzen May 29, 1934 2,461,466 Coad Feb.8, 1949

